(CNN) – Hilary Rosen offered an apology Thursday after her comments about Ann Romney sparked an uproar and a debate over women and the economy.

"I apologize to Ann Romney and anyone else who was offended," Rosen, a top Democratic strategist and CNN contributor, said in a statement. "Let's declare peace in this phony war and go back to focus on the substance."– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

The previous day, Rosen argued Ann Romney could not understand the struggles of women in the sluggish workforce because she "never worked a day in her life" as a stay-at-home mother.

Her comments quickly set off a spiraling controversy, as high-profile leaders on both sides of the aisle rushed to the defense of Ann Romney and that of women opting not to pursue their careers to solely focus on raising their children.

Read the full statement below:

"Let's put the faux 'war against stay at home moms' to rest once and for all. As a mom I know that raising children is the hardest job there is. As a pundit, I know my words on CNN last night were poorly chosen. In response to Mitt Romney on the campaign trail referring to his wife as a better person to answer questions about women than he is, I was discussing his lack of a record on the plight of women's financial struggles. Here is my more fulsome view of the issues. As a partner in a firm full of women who work outside of the home as well as stay at home mothers, all with plenty of children, gender equality is not a talking point for me. It is an issue I live every day. I apologize to Ann Romney and anyone else who was offended. Let's declare peace in this phony war and go back to focus on the substance."

soundoff(595 Responses)

Hilary committed the ultimate sin for her profession - becoming the story rather than spinning the story. I have no doubt someone's interfered to tell her to STFU and get off the stage.

April 12, 2012 05:05 pm at 5:05 pm |

morgan painter

That comment revealed the mindset of the speaker who is now trying to enact some damage control. There are too many people in the US who think a woman is not valuable unless she has a job outside the home.

Statistics bear the proof that homes with a stay home parent raise children who are involved in less crime and have a better education then those which do not. Democrats seem to think WOMEN, who they pretend to support, should work outside the home to show their worthiness. As if raising responsible, respectful children who contribute positively to society is a bad idea. The net effect is too much like the lifestyle in the 1950's and 60's Soviet Russia. "Let the government raise your children, it knows better how to do that." In my opinion guiding children to rise to their potential and improve this world is the highest calling any person can undertake.

Never worked a day in her life?
Hah, Ms. Rosen evidently has someone else do her cooking, cleaning, and laundry. That's work, trust me.

April 12, 2012 05:07 pm at 5:07 pm |

Blindersoff

Mrs. Romney don't know Jack and have no clue as to where to find him. Period.

April 12, 2012 05:07 pm at 5:07 pm |

BJD0012

Oh my god. She should not have appologized in teh slightest. The conversation was about the GENDER GAP IN THE WORKPLACE. Romney seems to think his wife has a great perspective on that issue. Anyone who thinks saying a person who does not belong to the workforce has no perspective on teh workforce is not insulting. It is an obvious criticism. She said nothing about her making the wrong choice to be a stay at home mom. But if you are a stay at home mom, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU KNOW ABOUT BEING A WOMAN IN THE WORKPLACE, NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!

April 12, 2012 05:08 pm at 5:08 pm |

Karen B

Let's get back to the real issues and not this phony war? Rosen is an elitist who is so out of touch with reality. THIS IS THE REAL ISSUE FOR WOMAN...........we are not divided as woman by the "work" that we do daily in or out of our homes or the color of our skin or who we worship on Sunday or all of the crap within the crap of political rhetoric. THE REAL ISSUE for all women is jobs, jobs, jobs, to feed our families first. We don't want government run hand outs for the rest of our days. We want success. If we can't afford to feed our children and give them a better life........................without being forever dependent on a big "pimp" government................nothing else matters.

April 12, 2012 05:11 pm at 5:11 pm |

Norwegian

As an outsider, I find it rather strange how Americans do not seem to understand how valuable working women are to the economy. The Norwegian prime minister has stated that the equality between men and women in the Norwegian labour market has been of greater value to the nation's economy than discovering oil. Having social benefits which allows the average paid woman to combine being a mother and working (mostly) full time is of the essence. The Save the Children's "State of the Worlds Mother's" reports from 2010 and 2011 states that Norway is the best country in the world for mothers and children, while the USA does disturbingly bad, dropping from 28. to 31. Polen, Latvia and Slovakia scores better. But still, being a stay at home mom is not at all common in Norway. Social and financial structures make it possible for women to contribute to the Economy, while teaching their children equality on a day to day basis by earning their own independance.

April 12, 2012 05:13 pm at 5:13 pm |

Harry

Let's accept the apology from the idiot and move on to real campaign issues. Let's talk about Obama's record and the good things he has done in 3 years. 1) ??????????? 2) ?????????/. I guess he hasn't did any good even when they controled the house congress for 2 years, and this is why the DEMs keep starting hate and discontent wars, "women, race, economic class" what's next?

Being middle class and a parent whose children were raised by a stay at home mother...by choice...leads me to believe that most of these people made their own choices good or bad...thinking no one deserves a free ride...bad choices should not be rewarded...at least that's what we taught our children

GOP trying to deflect yet again! Romney does not have the same concerns as the hard working waitress, doctor, secretary, clerk, reporter, engineer, teacher and so on. The GOP want to take away contraception for women, jobs for women, healthcare for women of low income like in my state of TX, trying to scrap programs for child care and so on. Yeah Romney really has to worry about those things. I see many men are siding with Hilary Rosen as well bec they need the extra income in their households to make it. Not every woman has a choice of Cadilacs to choose from! Go HILARY!

April 12, 2012 05:17 pm at 5:17 pm |

macrasta

wow, someone is comparing what Rush said to what Ms Rosen said..............wow

April 12, 2012 05:17 pm at 5:17 pm |

john

Why did Mit through his wife into the fire? He has no answer to the middle class and poor. Except cut social security and medicare. Everytime he is stuck with a question he puts it on sombody else. Is that the kind of President we want?

April 12, 2012 05:22 pm at 5:22 pm |

Kg

I think the real story needs to be that Anderson Cooper just sat there and did not challenge her comments, neither the 'war on women' meme or the 'Ann never worked' crapola. He just sat there. He was totally incapable of thinking on his own to come up with a follow up question? Or did he totally agree with her comment? Either way, another massive failure by AC.

April 12, 2012 05:23 pm at 5:23 pm |

IreneNY

AmericanMom – now you have to apologize to Hilary Rosen because she does have children and a demanding job outside the house. As a mom you KNOW that she does more than put on her makeup. How can you criticize her and then say much worse things about her yourself. I thought women were smarter than men. Why are we fighting each other, her comment was not meant to disrespect you but yours was sure meant to disrespect her.

April 12, 2012 05:24 pm at 5:24 pm |

Mayflower

Rosen has nothing to apologize for. She clearly wasn't criticizing stay at home mothers. She was criticizing Mitt Romney for using his wife as a source of information on the economic situation for working women. It's to be expected that Republicans will twist someone's words, but I'm extremely annoyed that Democrats are doing it too. What's the matter with Cafferty and Blitzer? Aren't the supposed to report accurately?

April 12, 2012 05:24 pm at 5:24 pm |

sherry

I don't begrudge the Romeys for their money but I am not stupid enough to believe they can fathom what I have faced as a woman and working and raising my children. They are people of privilege and have the wealth to make choices that most of us can't. So for Mitt to rely on Ann as a surrogate/authority of what the majority of women face in the country is absurd. And if women have chosen to stay at home with their children or to work is not the point, the point is what women HAVE to do to make ends meet without a choice because they do not have a choice. I never what someone ho has not walked in my shoes or who realistically understands the struggles of women much worse than mine to use their so-called "informed understanding" to be the basis for making decisions that effects the majority of women in this country. Amazing Mitt can use his wife's cancer and MS in his campaign but it's hands off that she was privileged enough to stay at home and swim with her kids in their backyard pool..at which home who knows.who cares?..they are not the mainstream of this country.

April 12, 2012 05:26 pm at 5:26 pm |

IreneNY

to morgan painter who says 'Democrats seem to think WOMEN, who they pretend to support, should work outside the home to show their worthiness'.

Where do you get these ideas from? Democrats do not think any such thing and you should not be making stuff up just to stir the pot a little more. Women, let's stick together before all of rights disappear while we are busy fighting with each other over a bad choice of someone's wording.

And Obama didn't try to pressure the supreme court! I guess not only republicans have foot in mouth disease. It's not what you meant. It's what you said.

April 12, 2012 05:34 pm at 5:34 pm |

Holly in CA

Hilary Rosen has got to be the most unqualified person to be speaking about women's issues or criticizing others for speaking about them. She's lesbian and single mother, not exactly the "norm" in America. Ann Romney, on the other hand is like so many American women, working hard as a wife, mother, grandmother, and volunteer. She's done a remarkable job.

April 12, 2012 05:35 pm at 5:35 pm |

dean

What about all those welfare moms that don't work Rosin? I guess they don't know jack either..

April 12, 2012 05:38 pm at 5:38 pm |

dean

Rosin on;y visits the white house to pick up a check every other week .